The Future of Us (Blog 3 Summary and POV)

The beginning of The Future of Us is a bit confusing but it gets better later in the book. It starts off with Emma talking about how she can't break up with a guy named Graham. After this it explains to us how she got a computer from her father as a gift. This had been the start of this story because it's wrapped all around the ideas of computers and the internet. Then the neighbor Josh had came over to give Emma a CD: ROM and that's when this story all starts off. For a while in the book Josh and Emma talk about computers and things on the computers. They talk about the few websites and accounts that they can make on their computers. This is the start of Emma and Josh really actually talking. 

I think that POV is an important topic to touch for this story. I think that POV is really important because the POV changes quite frequently. In the book it changes from the story in Emma's eyes, then to Josh's and it keeps going back and forth. I enjoy reading books like this because you can see how characters feel about other characters through their own perspective and eyes. In books when they do this I think that it gives off a different vibe, it allows differentiation and it keeps the book from boring you to tears. 

LATLL (Blog 2 Summary, Conflict, and Conclusions)

Leo and the Lesser Lion has to be one of the best books that I have ever read. It really had caught my attention and I could've read it for hours on end without getting bored. I usually enjoy reading books with several twists and turns in them, which this book hit the nail on the head with that. Leo and the Lesser Lion had many depressing notes, though it also had some kinder parts to it as well. My favorite part of the book would be where Leo died, not because it was happy but because it helped me to understand the book more than I had before. In the book it talks about the constellation Leo which was the name of one of the main characters. After he had died I had understood what the title had meant, Leo was the constellation while his little sister Bayliss had been the Lesser Lion. Though after Leo's death Bayliss felt lost, she didn't really know where she had belonged, or what her place in her family had been anymore.

This book had several conflicts right at the beginning but also throughout the whole book as a whole. In the beginning the book explains how the whole community is under a depression and everyone is poor. Bayliss' father is a doctor and people would trade him things such as potatoes for medical services. Then there had been the conflict of Leo dying. That had left their family, the Pettigrew's in mourning after the loss of their beloved son. The one person who had gotten hit the hardest had been Bayliss. The one thing that had kept her enjoying things and being happy was her brother. Leo and Bayliss would always go do pranks together and were partners in crime. This had cause another conflict of Bayliss losing sense of her purpose in her life. In the book after Leo's death there is another conflict which is these two "weary travelers" had been taken in by the Pettigrew's which had left Bayliss a little perturbed.  She had felt that way because they had been moved into Leo's room which she didn't feel was right.


Overall I had enjoyed this book and I hope to read many more books by the Author Sandra Forrester.

Tolerance Blog

I think a person can be more tolerant to others by being open minded,willing to try new things, and understanding others cultures and traditions. I think I can be more tolerant of others by trying to learn about their traditions and understanding their culture. When I say the word tolerance, I think of tolerant. Tolerant is being open to others ideas, like that one food is better than an other, even though you might not also agree with them. It also means, acceptance. A big part of tolerance is acceptance because if you're more accepting of others and their beliefs then you'll be more tolerant of others cultures. People can live a more tolerant life by not being prejudice. Just because a person might've experienced a situation they didn't enjoy, doesn't mean every person that is that race,gender,etc are going to act the same exact way. There's somethings in life that people just won't stand for and can't tolerate. One of the things that I can't tolerate whatsoever is discrimination of people in the LGBT community. In the beginning of this great nation being born, one of the main reasons for people coming over here, was to be free to do whatever that they felt was right, be free. Though now all of those ideas have been changed due to things like social media, t.v. shows, movies, and worst of all, just us as people. When I hear about discrimination about the LGBT community it just makes me upset. Although others might not agree, all religion and biases beside, I think if you love someone, no matter what gender, you should be able to be with them. I've always been pretty tolerant of things but then again there are things that I can't stand which I have to learn to cope with to become a better, and more understanding person. 

Native American's Marginalized

Many Native Americans had been marginalized in several ways by white people. In the article it tells the readers how the U.S. government went in and took many Native Americans and put them into schools without reason. In these schools the idea was to sort of get rid of the Native American culture and their ways of life. The article states how they had changed the attire and looks of the Native Americans. Carlisle had changed their clothes from traditional Native American wear to more proper clothing. They had also done things like primp the Native Americans, and make them have to have shorter hair and take care of their hygiene more. The goals of the Carlisle school was to turn the Native Americans from the people that they had been into more "proper" people. "Pratt was deeply troubled by their plight and poor education offered at reservation schools." This line from the text tried to make 
it seem like the schools were a good and helpful idea, thought that wasn't the case. Later in the text it states that Pratt's plan was to make them into more civil people and to get rid of their past ways of life, their traditions. The article also says how they had changed Ota Kte's name into Luther Standing Bear, and how Carlisle school had taken away things like his leggings, and moccasins. They had replaced it with an itchy wool uniform and leather boots. Carlisle school had forced the English language and the Christian faith upon those who had attended school there. Making them learn English had made them have to stop using their traditional language and changing their faith meant taking away culture from them as well.

I believe that the purpose behind Shanice Britton writing her essay was to inform us on how the times have changed. The article shows us many points about how much closer and less marginalized our society that we live in today is. Shanice also tells us in the article how "We live in houses with electricity and running water. I take showers, watch Finding Carter on MTV, and wear jeans, just like any other teen." It shows us how much closer we've become and that many of the stereotypes that we had thought of as true for Native Americans. She wants to know that the Native American's living today are just as normal people as anybody else, that they just live on a different place separate from other communities.

LATLL Blog 1 (Summary and Plot Analysis)

In my book there was a lot of action that had went on recently. In the very beginning this girl Mary and her brother Leo had snuck out of the house. They had then went to what they called "the hobo camp" to visit a fortune teller. Leo and Mary then had went to the fortune teller and when Leo got his fortune told, the fortune teller said nothing at all, because she didn't see a future. The next day it had been Mary's birthday and Leo had gotten her a boat for her birthday. Leo then had promised the next day that they would go out and sail it, and so they did. Soon after they had done that Mary had been tired from rowing and rested upon the top of rocks where she fell asleep. She then had woke up and had not seen Leo to her surprise. Although, Leo had went to another island, and it had started storming now. Mary had shouted for her brother but he couldn't hear her. Leo had kept swimming and swimming even though there was the thunder storm behind them. Leo had then drowned and Mary had fallen off the rocks into the water to then fall into a concussion.

In the book when Leo had seen the fortune teller she said that she saw nothing in his future. Later in the book I had realized that it had foreshadowed a future event that happens in the book. A few days after Leo had seen the fortune teller he had got caught up in swimming when there was a storm that was brewing up. Although he wouldn't get out of the water even though his sister was yelling at him to get out. As the waves got higher and higher, Leo had seemed smaller and smaller. In the book the events had shown me that the fortune teller hadn't seen anything because he wasn't going to have a future.

Traitor Blog 4 (Summary and Conflict and Conclusion)

      Overall this book was an interesting book with many twists. I think that it was an interesting book because the way that it made Danny think and how it changed him. The book overall is about how Danny has to make tough decisions that affect how his overall life will change. He has to make tough decisions such as wether to help his Grandfather, and help his blood family, or to help the British Government and help his country. He has to weigh the after affects of each decision he makes and how it will change things for him. He has to decide which decisions will make his life better or hold bonds and make his family stronger together.

       Throughout the book I had realized there was one main conflict. The conflict had been a person vs self conflict with Danny. Danny had to realize that he needed to help his family before himself. Danny also had to realize that he had to do what was best for him and his family. He also had to face the conflict of losing his chance at a better life to help his Grandfather. Danny had helped his grandfather and lost his chance at a better life but tied bonds with his grandfather.

Traitor (Blog 3 Summary and tough questions)

         Later in the story more action appears. Danny appears to have found his grandfather in Columbia. Although Danny's grandfather isn't doing legal work anymore. Danny's grandfather Fergus is now involved with a Columbian drug cartel. Fergus tries to explain what happened and why he followed the path he did but things changed. He tries to explain to Danny that he was betrayed by a higher level of authority in the British Government and now is in danger. That British Government worker knew that Danny would try to find his grandfather to get the scholarship and Danny has now led him to his grandfather Fergus. Now both Fergus and Danny must run because if Fergus get's found out about and his workings with the cartel then he'll be arrested for these crimes. Both Fergus and Danny must now use skills that they have to try and survive together.

          During the story I realized that he had a question he had to ask himself. What does he do with his grandfather? What does Danny do? Does he go on to help Fergus' keep away and escape from the British government, or does he turn him in to get the scholarship that he needs to turn his life around? In the book that is the conflict that he's faced with and how he goes about it can be the hardest decision of his life. One wrong thing he does can change everything that happens to him in the future or what happens to Fergus' future.

Traitor (Blog 2 Summary and Aha Moment)

             The book then goes into the future and talks about Fergus' grandson, Danny who is an orphan from London. Danny who wants to join the military is rejected from being drafted. Later Danny finds out the reason why he can't get into the military. They wouldn't draft Danny into the military due to his grandfather Fergus' horrible past actions. Danny has sought out to make his grandfather suffer for his actions that he has done. Danny also had wanted to find his grandfather because some British military officers had made a deal with Danny. If Danny were to find his grandfather who had went M.I.A. then they would give him a scholarship. He swiftly accepts the offer and is out to find his grandfather, because the only way that he'll have a better future is if he gets a scholarship and succeeds in life.

          I had realized that there was an aha moment in my story. I had seen it when I had been reading the first 50 pages. Danny had realized that if he helped people out things would become better for him. I realized that this changed everything because it sent him on the path to success. This would change things because he could turn his life around by finding his grandfather. Though it could also change his life because he could find new things and meet new people along the way in his journey and have many new experiences that could influence what he does in life.

Traitor (Blog 1 Summary and Character Analysis)

         There has been a lot of action that has started in the beginning of the book Traitor. The book starts off telling us about a soldier named Fergus. Fergus has been in the army regiment for 12 years. He had recently chosen to be in a base camp very carefully, and that was a trait that helped Fergus. Fergus' carefulness was what has allowed him to be alive for the whole 12 years in the regiment. This book had started off with Fergus at an army camp helping new soldiers learn how to load, unload, and then strip their weapons to become prepared for battle. Then they had been attacked by helicopters which had came with out and warning and then had opened fire on Fergus and the 12 men with him.

 
    From the portion of the book that I had read I can see that Fergus is an intelligent and trained soldier. In the book it says "Fergus could load, unload and strip down a weapon with his eyes closed." This helps me to understand that he is an intelligent person and that he is trained because he knows how to do all this stuff well and can do it without needing his eyes. I also can tell that Fergus is a leader because in the text it says "but now he kept his eyes on the twelve as they copied his actions." This shows that people had followed the orders of Fergus because they knew how well he was at what he did and how he could help them to survive in this war.

Malcolm X Blog 4 (Summary and Conflict/Conclusion)

Im at the end of my book and it takes quite a sad turn. Malcolm X has been assassinated by a group of people while he was on the stage. He had been with a group of people including his wife. Many people had witnessed Malcolm X being shot in front of them but did nothing. Then there was a photographer who had taken some photos of men tearing apart Malcolm X's clothes and loosening his tie, and giving Malcolm X mouth to mouth respiration. This book took many tragic turns and this one hit me the hardest.

After reading this book I had came across one main theme in the book. I had realized that the theme had been that even though things come across in your life that you need to be perseverant. I think that this is the theme because in the book Malcolm had gone through several problems such as becoming an orphan, committing several crimes, losing one of the most important people in his life, and making drastic changes to his life. All though he had gone through several problems he had persevered through them and made the best of his life and things that he could do. Malcolm X had become one of the most well known civil rights leaders of the 1930s-40s. These problems helped shape him into a better person and made him think a way he hadn't thought before. These problems had also taught him more things and gave him new morals that he hadn't followed before.

My final thought after reading this book was that I think I want to look into more books written by the author Alex Haley. The way he writes pulls me in and engrosses me in the book and just makes me want to read more of the books written by him.

Malcolm X Blog 2 (Summary and Again and Again)

In the book Malcolm X had gone through several problems and bad experiences. He had done behaviors many times without caring or thinking about consequences. He had done drugs several times now and he had then started to sell drugs. He had then been arrested which had put him in jail for a while and that formed him. He had then converted to the Nation of Islam as his religion. The Nation of Islam had helped form him as a man and change how he acted for the better. These things had made Malcolm a better thinker and actually thought things through and grown from his experiences.

In my book I had started realizing something had kept happening again and again. Malcolm X had been repeating crime and crimes over and over. Malcolm X had moved to New York and that's when his crime life had started. He had began to do many different crimes all over the area of crime. He had done things such as gambling, drug dealing, pimping, robbery, racketeering, he had also done sexual acts with other men, normally for money. These behaviors had been repeated from the time that he was 14 to the time when he was 21 which was when he had finally been incarcerated

Malcolm X Blog 3 (Summary and Contrast and Contradictions)

         So far in my book Malcolm X had found out about Elijah Muhammad breaking rules and code and finding out that he had committed adultery. This had torn Malcolm X away from the Nation of Islam. This had changed and formed Malcolm X majorly because he had looked up to Elijah Muhammad. Now he has lost his source of inspiration and courage. This had made Malcolm X think and he had to think about his life now and how far that he had came. This made Malcolm X have to consider many things in his life and consider many things that happened to him.

        In my book Elijah Muhammad had been an inspiration to Malcolm X. He had been following him without knowing Elijah was against what he was for. He had been found out for committing adultery. This helps us to show that he was hypocritical and went against himself. It also shows how that Elijah had contradicted himself. He went against the codes and rules that they have under that religion and let people down by doing so.  This helps me to understand how people go against what they say and contradict themselves might be people that you look up to. 

Malcolm X Blog (Summary and Character Analysis)

While reading this book I had learned that Malcolm X was an Equal Rights activist. He also went through a lot of struggles during his life. When he was 20 years old he had been arrested. Malcolm X had also turned to a lot of bad solutions in his life. When he was arrested he had converted to being an African American Muslim, while doing so he became disconnected from the world around him. Later in the book he reverts to drugs as an answer to his problems, which doesn't work out so well for him. He also had started getting a gambling addiction which was another one of the problems that he had faced.

Character Analysis

I think that Malcolm X was a perseverant character. I believe this because even though he had went through struggles in his life he had still prevailed. In my book Malcolm had suffered a gambling addiction which had hurt him financially, he had also done several drugs which had messed with his health, and he had also been imprisoned. Even though he had those problems he had still become one of the worlds most known civil rights activists. I also think he is a perseverant man because he ended up becoming an orphan due to the death of his father and his mom being sent to a mental hospital. Even though he had those problems as well he still had became a big person and had been more than just book smart.

Goals

Academically, I want to become a better student. I want to do this because I normally slack off and it makes me do bad in school. The way I am going to achieve this is by doing homework and having a more positive outlook on school, and learning. I find this important because if you don't do well in school, well it shows that you can't do anything well, if you can't just get spoken to, then what really can you do? I also think it reflects character, if you want to do good in school, then you'll do good, and if you do good in school you'll excel in life and become a happier person. You can become anything you want if you put your mind to it, if you set a goal for something, it somehow seems, more achievable which makes it easier for you to do things in life.

I want to become a singer, an actor, or a writer. All of those things can show how creative you are and I like to think that I am an out of the box thinker and I can be unique. I like to sing and act, but sometimes I also like to write because all of my words, ideas, and thoughts can just flow and I won't have to worry about things going wrong or me sounding stupid because most of the time only I can see it. I want to become a singer because it's just so beautiful, the sound of music is a soothing drink of sweet lemonade on a hot Summers day. Singing, in general is one of my favorite things because you become the instrument, and not every person sounds the same so in a way we are all sort of our own beautiful instruments that play in different ways and can all come together to make something even more beautiful. Acting is just so joyous to me because it allows you to be someone else. You don't have to worry about the day to day troubles of your normal life. It's like an escape, even though it isn't always permanent it is a way to unwind and enjoy yourself and become someone or something else you wouldn't normally be. It just transforms you and makes things a complete different world for you and others around you. You could be playing a character, and your friend could be playing another but when you're on stage you aren't known as Evan, or Luke, or whatever your name is, you are known as that character and it allows you to be different or unique.